A Match at Chickens 191 



cially on some quail which we accidentally found. 

 Yes, suh, with pleasure, I'm shu-ah ; and my young 

 friend ? You know my young friend ? Aw, beg 

 pawdon ! Mr. H , allow me, Mr. S ." 



Three hours later he said in strictest confidence, 

 " I always liked the English, Southern, you know, 

 — I always preferred a pointer, got one, you 

 know, — and I've always fancied a small gun, 

 quicker, you know, — and I've never lost a match 

 of my own making, suh, never, suh ! " 



As we walked home together, he said, " Now, 

 my deah boy, listen to me. I've offered a return 

 match at those chickens — which we wont get. 

 Mark my word, suh, we'll never get it. But," — 

 and he paused, " you saw that square-jawed man, 

 with the cropped mustache, didn't you .'' Well, 

 we'll receive, suh, a bluff from that quarter, suh, 

 yes, suh, — a bluff from that quarter!" 



"And — .?" I ventured. 



" We'll decline it, suh, yes, afe-^-cline it ! That 

 man's square-jawed, suh, he don't know how to 

 weaken, suh, — besides — he can beat the devil, 

 suh, y-e-s, beat the devil ! " 



" You never make a match on wine, do you ? " 

 he anxiously inquired, as we reached the parting 

 of the ways. 



" Never ! " I replied, laughing, for the colonel's 

 face was very red. 



" A good rule, suh, — an excellent rule ! Some 



